Reclining-chair.



L. J. SMALL.

RECLINING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I914.

Patented Dec.24,1918.

A TTOR/VEY WITNESSES:

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LEROY J. SMALL, OF CLAYTON, MISSOURI.

RECLINING-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters I 'atent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed July 6, 1914. Serial No. 849,103.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY J. SMALL, a

citizen of the United States of'America, residing at Clayton, county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Reclining-Chair, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to reclining attachments for chairs, and, more particularly, to an attachment which will be positively and automatically moved into operative position by the tilting of the chair, and automatically returned to a position adjacent to the chair when the chair is returned to normal position.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of chair made in accordance with my invention, Figure l is a side elevation, showing the chair in normal position; Fig. 2 is a rear view; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the chair in its tipped or reclining position, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section.

Like marks of reference refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

5 represents the legs, 6 the seat, and 7 the back of the chair, which may be of any desired construction. 8 is an auxiliary leg or supporting member which is pivoted to the back 7 preferably by means of a cap 9 forming a housing for the upper end of the leg 8. The leg 8 is of a length, as best shown in Fig. 2, which will not come in contact with the floor when in its normal or upright position, and which will give the back of the chair the proper inclination or slant when the chair is tipped into the position shown in Fig. 3. Pivoted to the auxiliary leg at a point 10 adjacent to the upper end of the leg are a pair of struts 11. The lower ends of these struts 11 are secured to hinges 12 attached to the rear legs 5. The lower ends of the struts 11 are arranged some distance in the rear ofthe rear legs 5 so that when the chair is tipped back in the position shown in Fig. 3, these struts will operate to automatically force the leg 8 away from the chair so as to bring it into position to support the chair as shown in Fig. 3. The housing 9 may act to limit the movement of the leg 8. I prefer, however, to use 1 as an additional means a toggle mechanism consisting of two links 13 and 1 1, secured to the bottom of the chair and to the leg 8. The link l is provided with a stop 15 to prevent the pivots of the toggle being brought into line and thus locking the leg 8 in its extended position.

The struts 11 may be secured to the hinge 12 by any means which will allow a suflicient movement between the two parts. One method of securing this connection is shown in Fig. 4. In this construction the hinge 12 is provided with an opening 16, countersunk on its lower side, and through this opening 16 a screw 17 passes into the lower end of the strut 11. This screw 17 is slightly smaller than the opening 16, so as to allow movement between the parts, but, at the same time, the head of the screw is so large that it cannot pass through the opening and the parts are thus secured together.

The operation of my device will be evident. When the chair is tipped back from its normal position, the operation of the floor on the lower ends of the struts 11 will positively force the leg 8 backward to support the chair in reclined position. When, however, the chair is returned to its normal position, the parts will move into position, shown in Fig. 1, by gravity so that the parts will be entirely out of the way.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide a chair with an auxiliary leg which is moved into operative position by gravity alone and, hence, do not claim such construction. I am also aware that it has been proposed to provide a chair with a supporting device which is moved i1111to and out of operative position manua y.

In the specification, and in the claims, where I have referred to a chair, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself toan ordinary chair seating one person, but also wish to include settees and benches, as well as ladders, easels and the like.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a chair or the like, the combination with a body movable upon an unattached supporting surface, of an auxiliary support adapted to maintain said body in an angular position, said auxiliary support being foldable against said body, and an operating strut pivoted to said auxiliary support and having a connection with said body allowing relative movement, whereby the inclining of said body relative to the unattached supporting surface will automatically operate to said position said auxiliary support.

2. In a chair or the like, the combination with a body movable upon an unattached supporting surface, of an auxiliary support adapted to maintain said body in an angular position, said auxiliary support being foldable, against said body, and an operating strut pivoted at one end to said support and the other having a double hinged connection to said body whereby the inclination of said body relative to the unattached supporting'surface will automatically operate to position the said auxiliary support.

3. In a chair, the combination with a member pivoted to the back of the chair, an operating strut pivoted to said member, said strut being adapted to be actu-- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal in the presonce of the two subscribing witnesses.

L. J. SMALL. [Ls] Witnesses:

WV. A. ALEXANDER, G. M. SHORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

